NHL comes to Kelowna as Canucks, Coyotes wrap up exhibition schedule

Vancouver faces Arizona at Prospera Place in exhibition finale

As preseason games go, tonight is a big one for the Vancouver Canucks and for hockey fans in the Okanagan.

The Canucks are hosting their exhibition finale in Kelowna — 7 p.m. at Prospera Place — against the Arizona Coyotes.

With both teams closing out the preseason, tonight’s game is a dress rehearsal for their regularseason openers next week and fans should get a glimpse of the opening-night rosters with all the best players in action.

For Vancouver, that means the likes of Brock Boeser and highly touted new rookie Elias Pettersson as well as Bo Horvat, Alex Edler and Jacob Markstrom.

Arizona can counter with newly-minted captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Clayton Keller, Dylan Strome and Antti Raanta, amongst others.

Edler will be the only former Kelowna Rockets player in either lineup since Canucks forward prospect Kole Lind has been assigned to the AHL’s Utica Comets to start his pro career, while Coyotes forward prospect Nick Merkley is still recovering from a knee injury and hasn’t been able to suit up for Arizona in the preseason.

The Canucks open the regular season at home in Vancouver on Wednesday — hosting the rival Calgary Flames — while the Coyotes are on the road to start, visiting the Dallas Stars on Thursday.